It's just another day at the office for Washington Metro Police lieutenant Sam Holland when a body surfaces off the shores of the Anacostia River. But before Sam can sink her teeth into the new case, Secret Service agents seize her from the crime scene. A threat has been made against her family, but nobody will tell her anythingincluding the whereabouts of her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano.

This isn't the first time the couple's lives have been at risk, but when a bombshell from Sam's past returns to haunt her, she can't help but wonder if there's a connection. With a ruthless killer out for vengeance, and Nick struggling to maintain his reputation after secrets from his own past are revealed, Sam works to tie the threat to a murder that can't possibly be a coincidence. And she has to get it done before her husband's career is irrevocably damaged

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Force's 11th Fatal romantic thriller continues her trend of writing likable, relatable characters who are entirely capable of handling the inevitably dire situations that occur in their high-risk jobs." --Publisher's Weekly"I don't think there is a book couple, after 11 books, that I love more than Sam and Nick. The stories get better and better. And this couple...they are constantly growing and evolving." --Cocktails and Books"A delightful almost-political but-not-quite story of murder, intrigue and yummie romance." --4.5 star review from Mystery Sequels

"This series just keep getting better and better." --5 star review from Mixed Book Bag

"Nick and Sam are the two halves of this indomitable couple. They are perfectly matched in both their brain power and physical energy to right what is wrong. The fact they adore each other feeds them to protect each other no matter what." --5 star review from As You Wish Reviews

About the Author

About the Author

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the name of M.S. Force. All together, her books have sold 6 million copies worldwide!Her goals in life are simple--to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Join Marie's mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor, on Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram at instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

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Why? It's part of a series I am addicted to. When I met this series I read the first five I think straight one after the other. Then I had to wait like the rest of the fans for each one. This is #11. Published July 2017. Auto-buy and auto-read.

Plot Lt Sam Holland and her extended family are picked up from wherever they are and put into lockdown. Somebody is threatening them, especially the children. Needless to say Sam is grumpy about that as she is in the middle of a case involving an unknown body floating in the river. Then there is an even more significant dead body and let the ride begin! Set in Washington DC.

What Appeals to me? Every time there is usually the mystery of a dead body for Sam and her team. I love the team dynamics and the various characters, many of whom have had a book with some focus on them. Then there is Sam's family and the people who work for her and her husband Nick. And... Nick and Sam - what a dynamic, romantic couple.

Each book leads into the next, I couldn't imagine not reading the previous ones first in order, but I guess it could be done but I wouldn't advise it.

And so.... I sat up and read this book one evening and then the short story that followed and then... the first chapter of Fatal Chaos which comes out early next year. I never, I repeat never, read a first chapter in a coming book. I broke my rule this time!! Fatal Chaos - February 2018, you are in my calendar.

Lt. Samantha (Sam) Holland is whisked away from the scene of a murder investigation by Secret Service agents. It all happened so abruptly that neither she nor her partner, Freddie, could stop them or get answers to their questions about what was going on. Sam finds herself locked down in a safe house along with the rest of her extended family. She eventually learns of the credible threat against them (especially the children) after she’s joined by her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano. Needless to say, Sam is very verbal in her displeasure over being locked down and unable to pursue the investigation or her other cases. She insists on going to work in spite of the danger to herself and others.

The police procedurals in these cases are always intriguing. I enjoyed following the evidence along with Sam and other detectives as they worked together to solve this case. I love these characters and have enjoyed reading about their lives. However, there are things occurring that just don’t work for me. Sam is the Second Lady – the Vice President’s wife – and yet she roams around the city easily recognized without protection of any kind…because she stomps her foot and demands it be that way. There’s no consideration for Nick or anyone else – just Sam doing what Sam wants to do. I loved that she continued to work after becoming Second Lady and think the plot has great potential, but it’s becoming harder to suspend belief and accept the fact that no agent covers her, and it’s never been more evident (or over-the-top) than in this book. Sam’s continued blatant attitude, along with some other issues, was so profound in Fatal Threat that I found myself shaking my head a few too many times. It lessened my enjoyment of this book.

I’m a fan of the series. I’ve loved the journey with Nick, Sam, and Scotty as well as the awesome support cast. I’m intrigued with their lives and future and am really hoping to see a more believable stance going forward. Yes, even Romance/Suspense has to be believable to a point. The saving grace for this book is the Bonus Story at the end concerning Avery and Shelby. I loved it and them!

I admit I'm totally in love with Nick and Sam so it's no wonder that I also love this story. I also admit I love Ms. Force's writing style; her stories have well-developed characters, thought-out plots and natural dialogue. The writing flows and the secondary characters are written with as much love and consideration as the main protagonists.

******Possible Spoilers*********MILD*****

There are two points in this story I was most bothered by, though. Irma Gibson's turn-around and the end of the mystery. I felt that it would have rang more true to form if Irma had maintained her same belief of Sam regardless of Sam's comments to her at her friend's house. Why should Irma suddenly believe that what Sam was telling her was true? I could almost hear Irma saying, perhaps a bit more hesitant, that it was so convenient of Sam to tell her these things now, when her son wasn't here to agree or refute it. Irma's capitulation felt too forced, like Ms. Force was determined that it had to have a happy ending.

Secondly, when the team (ostensibly, Sam) is solving the mystery and questioning the perpetrator, it seemed too anti-climatic. His capitulation, the lack of lawyer interference to shut him up. Too neat, too good-to-be-true.

Those bothered me enough that I mention them here. It lacked the complexity I've come to associate with Ms. Force's FATAL series. That didn't stop me from pre-ordering her next book and waiting on tenterhooks until it arrives, though. I'm still a fan of the series.